Kehr, Weber vie for open Lake County District 3 seat

October 30, 2012|By Jeff Danna, Chicago Tribune reporter

(Tribune illustration)

The Tribune asked candidates in contested races for Lake County Board five questions about issues facing county government. Here are the responses from Lake County Board candidates in contested races in districts 1, 5, 9, 16 and 19.

What is the biggest issue facing Lake County residents, and how would you address it as a County Board member?

Dale Kehr (Democrat): I think the biggest issue facing Lake County Residents is the costs of living. We have the highest property taxes in Illinois and (among) the highest in the Country. Still our taxing bodies, townships and park districts continue to ask for virtually unlimited increases each year as they try to balance budgets. Yet we have school districts who can only ask for an increase equal to the Consumer Price Index who are facing financial trouble with dwindling resources coming in from the state level. Resulting in cutting much needed programs for our kids i.e. computers, music, and gym.

I'm very concerned currently with the inequalities in the current property tax system. As a County Board Member I would fight to keep a balance in the way property taxes are allocated and prioritized. Too many cuts to our schools will adversely affect the appeal of Lake County to new residents and businesses perpetuating our problems. A common sense example is the Million dollar bike path in my district currently under construction paid for by a Referendum increasing our property taxes … yet our Schools in District 41 are facing a 2 million dollar deficit. I don't feel our tax dollars are being fairly distributed.

Tom Weber (Republican): Taxes and Jobs. I am a small business owner. I will do everything I can to ensure that the county does not damage the business environment in Lake County. Many business owners believe the County Board does not fully understand the impact their actions have on the business environment and how that costs jobs. My experience as a small business owner is a life-experience that is crucial to good government at the county level and I will be a watchdog to promote a business friendly environment.

We need to perform a detailed analysis of the services being provided by the county and determine if these services can be better provided by the private sector at a cheaper cost. I do not think the county should be in the entertainment or restaurant business. Why is Lake County in the golf course and marina business using taxpayer funds? I am opposed to the county building more recreational facilities that cost taxpayers money. The property taxes paid by private business owners would dramatically exceed any marginal profit the county claims they are making with these facilities.

Lake County and the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency are to conduct a land-use study for a proposed extension of Highway 53. Do you support the extension? What issues should the study take into consideration?

Dale Kehr (Democrat): I do support the extension of Highway 53 as do a majority of the residents. My main concern is to do this in the most environmentally friendly way we can, preserving the open spaces and community areas Lake County residents have come to expect and love. Additionally I believe we should study further the toll aspect of the extension in the following regard. When you require someone to pay a toll it will often deter travelers into selecting other routes that cost the driver nothing. This could impact residential areas and create traffic congestion and patterns that did not exist prior to the extension of 53.

Tom Weber (Republican): I favor the Route 53 extension. I do not like how this major thruway comes to an abrupt end and simply dump thousands of cars on to a road system that is incapable of handling the traffic. This would create thousands of jobs and give businesses easy and faster access to the western suburbs. The residents of District 3 overwhelming support this project. This is an excellent way to allow the residents and businesses to expand and move easily.

Motorola Mobility's announcement this summer it would leave Lake County for Chicago and lay off employees in the process came as a surprise to many people in the county, including elected officials. As a County Board member, what would you propose county do to retain employers like Motorola Mobility and also attract new jobs?